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Joe Johnson Says He'll Take Less Money To Play For New York.

While waiting for their opportunity to sell LeBron James on their team, the New York Knicks will be busy courting other stars that could potentially play with him at Madison Square Garden.

Their first such meeting will be with Joe Johnson, the Atlanta Hawks' All-Star guard, according to league sources.

Johnson
Johnson

When the clock strikes midnight ET in New York on July 1, Knicks team president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni will be in Los Angeles meeting with Johnson, who will hold all of his meetings with clubs on the West Coast. The Knicks' brass will fly to northeast Ohio to woo James at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday.

While the Hawks hope to keep Johnson in Atlanta, several sources said the Knicks have emerged as his first choice. If they must lose him, the Hawks' preference is to work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Knicks.

Stoudemire
Stoudemire

But if no players on the Knicks' roster appeal to Atlanta, Johnson, believing he will make up the difference through endorsements and through buying stock shares in Madison Square Garden, is willing to take less money to play with the Knicks, according to sources.

Whatever the case, the Knicks could offer Johnson a maximum-salary contract worth approximately $96 million over five years, or a deal worth $125 million over six years through a sign-and-trade.

Walsh and D'Antoni also hope to meet with Amare Stoudemire while in Los Angeles.

Johnson and Stoudemire emerged as star players while playing for D'Antoni in Phoenix, which is a large part of the reason both players are considering New York so strongly.

Johnson averaged double figures (16.7 ppg) for the first time in his career while playing for D'Antoni in the 2003-04 season. That same year, Stoudemire went from being a 13-point scorer to a 20-point scorer in D'Antoni's wide-open system.

While the Knicks' main target is James, the duo of Johnson and Stoudemire would be a nice consolation prize if James goes elsewhere. The team thinks James and Johnson would be a particularly strong tandem, and it believes that Johnson will talk to James about the benefits of joining forces in New York.

James' first meeting will be with the New Jersey Nets on the morning of July 1, followed by the Knicks and several other clubs over the next few days.

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Last edited by rady; Jun 28, 2010 at 13:58.
Reason: Please add the link to the source when copy/pasting articles from the media

SIGN-N-TRADE would be great. Probably have to trade Chandler, but if it allows us to dump Curry's expiring contract, then this would be great news. We would get Johnson and still have about 30 million to go shopping.

But if no players on the Knicks' roster appeal to Atlanta, Johnson, believing he will make up the difference through endorsements and through buying stock shares in Madison Square Garden, is willing to take less money to play with the Knicks, according to sources.

I thought this had already been deemed as illegal under the term 'salary cap circumvention'.

It can't be illegal...it's only illegal if the team itself offers shares of stock to the player.

If the player himself chooses to buy stock in a team, what's to stop him? It's called a free market...

LeBron James can buy stock in the company that owns the Knicks, making theirs the potentially most lucrative deal the free-agent superstar can get, according to Forbes.com.

Forbes national editor Michael Ozanian writes, "I am telling you next season LeBron will be playing for the New York Knicks because this January they became the only franchise that can use their stock as currency."

The report says James can't be paid in MSG stock, but there's no limit on how much he can buy.

Right! I see. I thought this was considered a faux pas by Stern. Don't really know anything about stocks, but I'd buy some Cablevision stock if James signs here.

I thought this had already been deemed as illegal under the term 'salary cap circumvention'.

I think you're right, it's in one of those Lebron threads. Surprised me because I would have thought the player can invest his money anyway he sees fit but I guess the NBA doesn't see it that way.

I wouldn't pay JJ max money but the Knicks have put themselves in a box, they have to sign someone and probably will overpay. And a SnT for JJ for anyone but Curry I would definitely not do, 6 years of JJ is way too much w/o dumping a contract like Curry's.

I think you're right, it's in one of those Lebron threads. Surprised me because I would have thought the player can invest his money anyway he sees fit but I guess the NBA doesn't see it that way.

I wouldn't pay JJ max money but the Knicks have put themselves in a box, they have to sign someone and probably will overpay. And a SnT for JJ for anyone but Curry I would definitely not do, 6 years of JJ is way too much w/o dumping a contract like Curry's.

Amen. Paying 16 mil or so to a 35 yr-old JJ... gulp.

I would prefer to overpay and bring in Tyrus Thomas, bring back Lee and sign 2 other tier-C free agents (Salmons, Outlaw, Korver).

I think you're right, it's in one of those Lebron threads. Surprised me because I would have thought the player can invest his money anyway he sees fit but I guess the NBA doesn't see it that way.

I wouldn't pay JJ max money but the Knicks have put themselves in a box, they have to sign someone and probably will overpay. And a SnT for JJ for anyone but Curry I would definitely not do, 6 years of JJ is way too much w/o dumping a contract like Curry's.

That's the attitude that every player should have, take less money to play in the best franchise in the league, I'm totally against what we are trying to do with LeBron, is he our only hope or any kind of God?
We are the New York Knicks, the most valuable franchise in the NBA, players have the opportunity to play in the Mecca of basketball so we don't need to be the party that wants the any kind of players, they should want to play for Knicks.
Go after Joe and Wade Donnie and re-sign Lee!

i hope he takes less money. joe johnson is not good enough to be a teams best player which is why hes not worth max dollars. hes a all star talent but not a superstar. i dont even know how he could even ask for the max after his recent playoff showing

We are the New York Knicks, the most valuable franchise in the NBA, players have the opportunity to play in the Mecca of basketball so we don't need to be the party that wants the any kind of players, !

play in the mecca with who?? fat-fuk curry?? douglas??, walker?? sergio???
zepole??

i wish it wasn't true, but the guy (s) who sign here are doing so with one thing in mind... $$$$$$$.... not winning titles but $$$$$$$$...

i hope he takes less money. joe johnson is not good enough to be a teams best player which is why hes not worth max dollars. hes a all star talent but not a superstar. i dont even know how he could even ask for the max after his recent playoff showing